News
BREAKING: Tinubu sacks Kyari as NNPC CEO
According to a statement issued early Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, all other board members appointed alongside them in November 2023 have also been dismissed.
In the new 11-member board, Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari has been named as the Group CEO, while Ahmadu Musa Kida takes over as the non-executive chairman. Adedapo Segun, who replaced Umaru Isa Ajiya as the company’s chief financial officer last year, has also been appointed to the new board.
Representing the country’s six geopolitical zones as non-executive directors are Bello Rabiu (North West), Yusuf Usman (North East), and Babs Omotowa (North Central). Others include Austin Avuru (South-South), David Ige (South West), and Henry Obih (South East). Additionally, Mrs Lydia Shehu Jafiya from the Federal Ministry of Finance and Aminu Said Ahmed from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources have been appointed to represent their respective ministries.
According to the statement, the appointments take effect immediately, with President Tinubu citing Section 59, subsection 2 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, as the basis for the restructuring.
The new board has been tasked with conducting a strategic review of NNPC’s portfolio, particularly its operated and joint venture assets, to align them with value maximisation goals.
As part of its targets, the administration is pushing to increase oil production to two million barrels per day by 2027 and three million by 2030, while gas output is expected to reach eight billion cubic feet daily by 2027 and 10 billion by 2030. The new board is also expected to expand NNPC’s share of crude oil refining, aiming for 200,000 barrels per day by 2027 and 500,000 by 2030.
Tinubu thanked the outgoing board members for their service, particularly their contributions to rehabilitating the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which enabled the resumption of petroleum production.
The statement fully reads, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a sweeping reconstitution of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited board, removing the chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure and the group chief executive officer, Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari.
“President Tinubu removed all other board members appointed with Akinyelure and Kyari in November 2023.
“The new 11-man board has Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the Group CEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as non-executive chairman.
“Adedapo Segun, who replaced Umaru Isa Ajiya as the chief financial officer last November, has been appointed to the new board by President Tinubu.
“Six board members, non-executive directors, represent the country’s geopolitical zones. They are Bello Rabiu, North West, Yusuf Usman, North East, and Babs Omotowa, a former managing director of the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas( NLNG), who represents North Central.
“President Tinubu appointed Austin Avuru as a non-executive director from the South-South, David Ige as a Non-executive director from the South West, and Henry Obih as a non-executive director from the South East.
“Mrs Lydia Shehu Jafiya, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, will represent the ministry on the new board, while Aminu Said Ahmed will represent the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
”President Tinubu, invoking the powers granted under Section 59, subsection 2 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, emphasised that the board’s restructuring is crucial for enhancing operational efficiency, restoring investor confidence, boosting local content, driving economic growth, and advancing gas commercialisation and diversification.
“President Tinubu also handed out an immediate action plan to the new board: to conduct a strategic portfolio review of NNPC-operated and Joint Venture Assets to ensure alignment with value maximisation objectives.
“Since 2023, the Tinubu administration has implemented oil sector reforms to attract investment. Last year, NNPC reported $17 billion in new investments within the sector. The administration now envisions increasing the investment to $30 billion by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030.
“The Tinubu administration targets raising oil production to two million barrels daily by 2027 and three million daily by 2030. Concurrently, the government wants gas production jacked to 8 billion cubic feet daily by 2027 and 10 billion cubic feet by 2030.
“Furthermore, President Tinubu expects the new board to elevate NNPC’s share of crude oil refining output to 200,000 barrels by 2027 and reach 500,000 by 2030.
“The new board chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, is from Borno State. He is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he received a degree in civil engineering in 1984. He also obtained a postgraduate diploma in petroleum engineering from the Institut Francaise du Petrol (IFP) in Paris
“He started his career in the oil industry at Elf Petroleum Nigeria and later joined Total Exploration and Production as a trainee engineer in 1985.
“Musa became Total Nigeria’s Deputy Managing Director of Deep Water Services in 2015. Last year, he became an Independent Non-Executive Director at Pan Ocean-Newcross Group.
”Apart from his oil industry career, Ahmadu Musa Kida is a former basketballer and the president of the Nigerian Basketball Federation(NBBF) board.
“Ojulari, the new NNPC Limited Group CEO, hails from Kwara State. Until his new appointment, He was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. His Renaissance recently led a consortium of indigenous energy firms in the landmark acquisition of the entire equity holding in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), worth $2.4 billion.
“Like Kida, Ojulari is also an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked for Elf Aquitaine as the first Nigerian process engineer to begin a stellar career in the oil sector. From Elf, he joined Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd in 1991 as an associate production technologist.
“Apart from working in Nigeria, he worked in Europe and the Middle East in different capacities as a petroleum process and production engineer, strategic planner, field developer, and asset manager. In 2015, he became the managing director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO).
“During his career, he was chairman and member of the board of trustees of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Nigerian Council) and a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
“President Tinubu thanked the old board members for their dedicated service to NNPC Limited, particularly their efforts in rehabilitating the old Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which enabled them to resume petroleum product production after prolonged shutdowns. He wished them well in their future endeavours.”
News
Stakeholders, Firm Seek Reforms to Boost Professionalism,
By Our Reporter
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s real estate industry, alongside Golden Land Estate Ventures Limited, have called for urgent reforms to strengthen professionalism, transparency, and investor confidence in the sector.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued on Monday in Enugu following the company’s 2026 Mid-Year Seminar/Luncheon, held on Friday, July 3, at Wendy’s Place. The seminar, themed “Next-Level Real Estate Practices,” brought together real estate developers, chief executive officers, realtors, marketers, investors, and other stakeholders from the South-East to examine emerging industry trends, challenges, and practical strategies for sustainable growth.
According to the communiqué, participants unanimously adopted several resolutions after extensive deliberations.
Among the key resolutions was a call for stronger government action against the multiple sale of land. Participants urged the Federal, State, and Local Governments to strengthen land administration policies and impose stringent sanctions on communities and individuals involved in the fraudulent sale of the same parcel of land to multiple buyers.
They noted that such practices continue to erode investor confidence, fuel land-related litigation, and discourage genuine investment in the real estate sector.
The stakeholders also stressed the need to promote professionalism and healthy competition within the industry. They maintained that competition should be driven by integrity, innovation, quality service delivery, and professionalism rather than unhealthy rivalry, misinformation, or actions capable of damaging the reputation of fellow practitioners.
They further encouraged industry leaders to embrace collaboration as a means of promoting collective growth and enhancing public confidence in the sector.
The communiqué also emphasised the importance of honesty and transparency in dealings with clients. Participants urged real estate practitioners to refrain from making false claims, exaggerating property values, misrepresenting estate locations or approvals, or giving unrealistic assurances merely to secure transactions.
They insisted that prospective buyers should be provided with accurate, verifiable, and complete information before making investment decisions.
On service delivery, the seminar called on real estate developers and chief executives to establish effective internal controls to eliminate the overselling or double allocation of plots. Developers were also urged to ensure prompt allocation of purchased lands and timely issuance of all necessary documentation.
According to the communiqué, efficient service delivery is critical to sustaining customer trust and improving the credibility of the industry.
The participants also called on government agencies, industry regulators, professional bodies, community leaders, developers, and practitioners to work together in building a transparent, accountable, and investment-friendly real estate environment that protects property buyers and supports sustainable national development.
Golden Land Estate Ventures Limited reaffirmed its commitment to promoting ethical business practices, professional excellence, continuous capacity development, and responsible real estate investment in Nigeria.
The communiqué was signed by Comrade Damian Ogudike and Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, directors of Golden Land Estate Ventures Limited, on behalf of the company’s board. It was also drafted and endorsed by the seminar’s resource persons, Mrs. Amaka Dim of Exotic Landlady Estate and Miss Blessing Anene of BuildWise Solution Centre Estate.
News
Families Homeless as Fire Razes Two-Storey Building in Enugu (Video)
By Our Correspondent
ENUGU — Two families were left homeless on Saturday after a fire destroyed two flats in a two-storey building located at No. 22 Church Road, Asata, in Enugu metropolis.
The fire, which started at about 10 a.m., reportedly broke out after the occupants of the affected upper-floor flats had left for their daily activities.
Although the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report, eyewitnesses said the inferno completely destroyed household items and other valuables in the affected apartments.
One of the victims, who returned home while the building was engulfed in flames, reportedly collapsed after seeing the extent of the damage. He was revived by sympathisers at the scene.
The victim, said to be an employee of one of the higher institutions in Enugu State and nearing retirement, lamented that years of hard work had been wiped out by the incident.
According to him, the fire destroyed all his household property, including important documents and certificates, leaving him with no option but to relocate his family to his ancestral home.
“All I have worked for all these years is gone,” he said in tears.
No life was lost in the incident, but residents appealed to the Enugu State Government, emergency management agencies and public-spirited individuals to come to the aid of the affected families, even as they urged the authorities to investigate the cause of the fire.
See video
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Nigeria students issue 4-day ultimatum to South African business interests to evacuate Nigeria
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the apex students governing body, has issued a four days ultimatum to South African business interests to evacuate Nigeria.
This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Enugu by Comrade Amb. Bestman Okereafor, NANS National Executive Director, Cooperate and Private Sectors Engagement.
The statement said that after the expiration of the ultimatum, South African business interests would face full wrath of the over 43.1 million Nigerian students scattered in the nooks and crannies of the country.
“The attention of the apex students governing body, NANS, has been drawn to continuous attacks, intimidation and subsequent chase of law abiding, peaceful and hardworking Nigerians and other Africans from South Africa.
“As the biggest students body in Africa, we are giving South African business interests four days to evacuate our beloved country, Nigeria.
“The reason for this action is simple. South Africans cannot continue to oppress and chase our people from their country and expect their businesses to thrive on our soil,” it said.
The statement further noted that immediately after expiration of the ultimatum, NANS will consider picketing South Africa business interests, while further actions will follow.”
It called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the African Union (AU) to take more decisive actions against South Africa for their inimical acts towards other Africans.
“It is on record that Nigeria played a major role in support of South Africa during the apartheid struggle and should never be paid with disloyalty, disrespect and global embarrassment,” it added.
It would be recalled that xenophobic attack by South Africans on other Africans for some months had led to Nigerians being physically assaulted, embarrassed, intimidated, injured and some gruesomely murdered.
Several Nigeria business interests and business premises, owned by law abiding Nigerians in South Africa, had been completely burnt down or destroyed by rampaging South Africans without any justification.
The alleged perpetrators of these crimes had earlier given Nigerians and other Africans an ultimatum of June 30 to leave South Africa.
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had in recent weeks airlifted hundreds of Nigerians, who are willing to leave the unfriendly country and her people, free of charge back to Nigeria.
However, some of those, who returned to Nigeria recently, left South Africa barely with the cloth they put on, losing savings, valuables and businesses they set up or acquired after many years.
News
Man Missing Since 2007 Found Alive After Spending 18 Years in Prison Without Trial
A man identified as Gospel Uebari Kinanee, who disappeared in 2007 at the age of 14, has been found alive after spending 18 years in detention at the Port Harcourt Maximum Security Correctional Centre.
According to reports, Gospel was allegedly taken into custody by suspected security operatives and detained without trial, formal charges, or any case file.
Before his disappearance, he had gone out to play near his home in Ogoni, Rivers State, in 2007 and never returned. His family launched an extensive search, visiting police stations, mortuaries, and even the same correctional facility where he was unknowingly being held. Unable to cope with the uncertainty and anguish, both of his parents reportedly died during the years-long search.
His family and advocates were unable to locate him because he had been wrongly registered by the correctional facility under the name “Baridi Sunday” instead of his real name, Gospel Uebari Kinanee.
His ordeal came to light during a prison outreach programme conducted by the Haven360 Foundation, where he was identified as one of several “ghost prisoners”—individuals detained without proper legal documentation.
Gospel was subsequently released by the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, during a jail delivery exercise aimed at decongesting correctional facilities.
Now in his 30s, Gospel is reportedly battling severe mental and psychological health challenges following his prolonged detention.
His family is pursuing a ₦10 billion lawsuit against the Federal Government and the Rivers State Government, seeking justice and compensation for his alleged unlawful detention.
News
18 LG Chairmen, 22 Exco Members, 28 Aspirants Shun “Kangaroo Grand Entry,” Pledge Loyalty to Anosike
In a fresh show of solidarity within the Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), sixteen Local Government Chairmen, twenty-two State Executive Committee members, and twenty-eight aspirants across the state have distanced themselves from what they described as a “kangaroo grand entry,” reaffirming their allegiance to the state chairman, Senator Emma Anosike.
The mass show of support comes amid lingering tension in the party following a controversial court process that had sought to challenge Anosike’s leadership , a move the state APC executive had earlier dismissed as a “kangaroo judgment” lacking the backing of genuine party stakeholders.
Sources within the party say the boycotted event, tagged a “Grand Entry,” was organized by a faction opposed to the current leadership, apparently in an attempt to project an alternative structure and challenge the legitimacy of Anosike’s executive. However, the near-total absence of substantive party officials at the event has been read by observers as a clear indication that the rival faction lacks the grassroots backing it claims to have.
In separate statements, the affected chairmen, exco members, and aspirants said their decision to stay away was a deliberate stand against what they called an orchestrated distraction targeted at the “constitutionally recognized” leadership of the party in the state. They restated their commitment to the Anosike-led executive, insisting that the chairman and his team remain the only legitimate authority running the affairs of the APC in Anambra.
Party loyalists argue that the scale of the boycott — spanning local government administration, the state working committee, and aspiring candidates — sends a strong signal about where the balance of support lies within the party’s grassroots structure. They maintain that any parallel structure or gathering outside the recognized leadership amounts to a distraction that will not derail the party’s preparations for the National Assembly, State Assembly, and local government polls.
As of press time, the organizers of the “Grand Entry” have yet to respond publicly to the mass boycott, while the Anosike-led executive is expected to address the development formally in the coming days.
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